Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Gervinho all scored for the Ivory Coast as they overpowered Senegal in the first leg of their World Cup play-off.

Drogba converted a fifth-minute spot kick, which was followed by a goal from former Arsenal winger Gervinho nine minutes later and then a breakaway effort from Salomon Kalou just after the break in Abidjan.

Senegal's Papiss Cisse pulled one back five minutes into stoppage time with the last kick of the game.

Trumpeting Elephants: The Ivory Coast impressed as they raced into a 3-0 lead against Senegal

On the ball: Didier Drogba scored early on as the Ivory Coast earned a thumping victory

OTHER RESULT

Burkina Faso 3-2 Algeria

Although Drogba continued his
talismanic influence on the Ivorians, who qualified for the previous two
World Cups in Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010, Italian-based
midfielder Gervinho was central to all the home goals.

He was brought down by Cheikh Kouyate to earn the penalty and then scored the second, via the boot of defender Lamine Sane.

Five minutes after halftime, Gervinho
slipped a perfectly-weighted pass between two defenders to allow Kalou
to run away and tuck the ball home.

Link-up: Salomon Kalou and Drogba played together at Chelsea for several years

But the Ivorians collapsed to the turf
at the final whistle after sloppy defending allowed Cisse to sneak in
at the back post and convert a cross as the referee was about to blow
the final whistle, in a rare highlight for the visitors .

The return match is being played in
Casablanca, Morocco on November 16 because Senegal have a ban on their
home ground in Dakar.

Well done: Gervinho talks with his coach Sabri Lamouchi after the game was over